This article has not yet been professionally approved. The information is based on the sources listed below.
Nettle for horses: minerals, caution and competitions
What minerals nettles provide for horses, why the content varies with the season, what the stinging hairs of fresh plants can cause and what applies in competitive sport.
The short answer
For horses, nettle is a mineral-rich herb with plenty of calcium, potassium and silicic acid 1. The contents vary widely with the season 2. We have not found a feeding study in horses, so an effect is not proven. Include nettle in the ration like any other feed and check it in the ADMR database before competitions 3.
What nettle leaves contain
Nettle leaves are rich in minerals. The assessment report of the EU medicines agency gives an ash content of around 17.9 per cent, plenty of calcium and potassium, and 1 to 4 per cent silicic acid 1.
Exactly how much they contain depends on the time of harvest. A food analysis found clear differences in fresh nettle between autumn and spring 2.
| Nutrient | Autumn | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| Calcium | 278 mg | 788 mg |
| Protein | 3.7% | 6.3% |
| Iron | 1.2 mg | 3.4 mg |
Fresh nettle per 100 g from a food analysis; not a feed value table for horses 2.
Nettle in the ration
Because nettle supplies a lot of calcium and potassium, it is not a neutral treat. Calcium and phosphorus should be in a suitable ratio in the overall ration 4. So include the amount in your calculation, especially if mineral feed or lucerne is also fed.
We did not find horse-specific feed values for nettle in the sources reviewed. The values above come from the food analysis and are only a rough guide.
Fresh nettle and stinging hairs
The stinging hairs of the fresh plant contain acetylcholine, serotonin and formic acid, among other substances. Skin contact can cause itching, skin inflammation and hives 1. In animals, too, nettle is one of the possible triggers of hives 5.
Blanching and cooking make nettle manageable without the sting 2. There are no data on drying in the sources reviewed.
What is not proven
We have not found a feeding study with nettle in horses. Claims such as “cleanses the blood”, “stimulates the metabolism” or “drains excess water” have not been investigated in horses and are no reason to add it to the ration.
Nettle in competitive sport
Nettle is neither on the 2025 FEI list nor named in the FN rules 67. However, the FN bans phytotherapeutics in competition in general. So check nettle and herbal mixes in the ADMR database before competitions 3.
Key takeaways
Frequently asked questions
Can horses eat nettles?
Dried nettle leaves are sold as a feed herb. With fresh plants, the stinging hairs can irritate the skin and trigger hives 15. There is no feeding study in horses.
How much nettle can I give my horse?
There is no proven daily amount. Because nettle contains a lot of calcium, the amount belongs in the ration calculation so that the ratio to phosphorus is right 4.
What does nettle do for horses?
Its mineral content is documented 1. Claims about blood cleansing, metabolism or coat have not been investigated in horses.
Sources & studies
The content is based on the references listed below. It does not replace individual veterinary or feeding advice.
Show list of sources (7)
- European Medicines Agency, HMPC (2010): Assessment report on Urtica dioica L., Urtica urens L., folium. EMA/HMPC/508013/2007Assessment report of 14 January 2010, section 2.1.1: nettle leaves contain minerals (ash approx. 17.9%; calcium as CaO approx. 5.9%; silicates 1–4% SiO2; high potassium content) and, in the stinging hairs, small amounts of acetylcholine, serotonin, formic acid and leukotrienes. Contact with the stinging hairs of the fresh plant can cause itching, dermatitis and urticaria (3.3.2). Preparations are considered well tolerated. Human medicinal context; check newer revisions if necessary
- Rutto LK, Xu Y, Ramirez E, Brandt M (2013): Mineral Properties and Dietary Value of Raw and Processed Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica L.). International Journal of Food Science 2013:857120Food analysis. Table 2: calcium in raw nettle 278 mg/100 g (autumn) or 788 mg/100 g (spring) fresh matter, protein 3.7 or 6.3%, iron 1.2 or 3.4 mg/100 g, high in beta-carotene; values vary greatly with season. According to the authors, blanching and cooking make the plant safe to handle. No data on drying, no relation to horses
- FN – Anti-Doping und Medikation (ADMR-Suchmaschine)Official database of the FN (German Equestrian Federation) on substances and withdrawal periods in competitive sport
- GfE (2014) – Empfehlungen zur Energie- und Nährstoffversorgung von PferdenSpecialist reference in German-speaking countries (GfE, German Society of Nutrition Physiology), Committee for Requirement Standards
- Heinrich NA (2024): Urticaria (Hives, Wheals) in Animals. Merck Veterinary ManualSpecialist overview, full review February 2024, updated September 2024: possible triggers of urticaria include plants “such as stinging nettle”. No horse-specific nettle finding
- FEI (2024): 2025 Equine Prohibited Substances List. Fédération Équestre Internationale, Lausanne, Stand 25.11.2024Version checked: 2025 (the 2026 version could not be accessed on 18 October 2026). Harpagoside is listed as CONTROLLED (analgesic), valerenic acid as CONTROLLED, capsaicin as BANNED. Silibinin/silymarin, Vitex constituents (agnuside, casticin), nettle, rosehip and ascorbic acid are not listed by name. Catch-all clause: substances with a similar chemical structure or similar biological effect are also prohibited. The list is revised annually; the current version always applies
- Deutsche Reiterliche Vereinigung (FN): Anti-Doping- und Medikamentenkontroll-Regeln für den Pferdesport (ADMR) mit Verbotsliste Anhang I–IIIRulebook with its own FN prohibited list (Art. 4.1). Annex II (prohibited medication, banned in competition) explicitly names “Harpagophytum Procumbens (Teufelskralle)” (devil's claw) under the musculoskeletal system and, under “Darüber hinaus sind verboten” (also prohibited), lists in general terms “Phytotherapeutika, wie z.B. Arnika, Ingwer” (phytotherapeutics such as arnica, ginger). Catch-all clause for substances with a similar structure or effect. Responsible persons are personally liable for everything administered to the horse (Art. 2.1.1), including with contaminated feed supplements (commentary on Art. 10.4). The document bears no date